Farrow & Ball vs Little Greene: Which Paint Should You Choose?

If you are planning a room redecoration in North London and you have decided to use a premium paint, the choice usually comes down to two names: Farrow & Ball and Little Greene. Both are excellent British paint manufacturers with deep roots in heritage colour and quality formulation. Both are used extensively by Hampstead Painting Company on projects across Hampstead, Highgate, and the surrounding area. But they are not identical — and for certain applications, one is clearly superior to the other.

The Case for Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball is the most recognised premium paint brand in the UK. Its colours — Elephant's Breath, Mole's Breath, Hardwick White, Hague Blue — have become shorthand for a certain style of considered, quality interior. Here is what makes it genuinely outstanding:

• Depth of colour: Farrow & Ball's signature characteristic is the extraordinary depth and complexity of its colours. Even neutrals appear to shift subtly in different lights — a quality that comes from the high pigment loading and chalky, low-sheen formulation.
• The Dead Flat finish: Farrow & Ball's Dead Flat (formerly Estate Emulsion) is the most beautiful flat wall finish available for period interiors. Its near-zero sheen is uniquely suited to the proportions and quality of light in high-ceilinged Victorian and Georgian rooms.
• Brand recognition: For resale value and staging, Farrow & Ball has unrivalled brand recognition with buyers — specifying it can add perceived value.

The Case for Little Greene

Little Greene is less well known among the general public but highly regarded by decorators and interior designers. Its advantages are significant:

• Durability: Little Greene's emulsions — particularly the Intelligent Matt and Intelligent Eggshell — are more washable and durable than equivalent Farrow & Ball products. For kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and children's rooms, this matters considerably.
• Breadth of palette: Little Greene offers over 200 colours compared to Farrow & Ball's 132, including an outstanding range of historic colours with genuine heritage provenance from the Colour Council archive.
• Ease of application: Decorators generally find Little Greene easier to apply — it flows better, levels more consistently, and is more forgiving of imperfect application conditions than Farrow & Ball.
• Value: Little Greene is typically 10–15% cheaper than Farrow & Ball for an equivalent product.

Our Verdict

For principal reception rooms in period properties — drawing rooms, dining rooms, studies — where you want the most beautiful, richest flat finish and depth of colour is the priority, Farrow & Ball Dead Flat is hard to beat. For everywhere else — particularly kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and children's rooms — Little Greene Intelligent Matt or Intelligent Eggshell gives a better practical result at a slightly lower price.

Many of our clients at Hampstead Painting Company use both in the same property — Farrow & Ball in the principal rooms, Little Greene in the working areas. This is a smart approach that maximises the strengths of each brand.

Need advice on which brand and specific colours are right for your home? Contact Hampstead Painting Company for a colour consultation alongside your free quote.